While closing the deal on a tool box (fishing box) that I DIDN'T need, out came the other items for sale by the seller (who buys storage units). Some nice vintage, and yet not rusty items that I mostly passed on, but there was a nice 16z claw hammer, with the octa face, and somewhat octa handle that matches my go-to Stanley at home. Not needing two, I threw it in to the pile of (hey, lets make a package deal) on this other stuff and left with a heavy tool box.
The head was a tiny bit loose, and was epoxied over (which I though strange) on the top, and this morning as I was pulling the head off to give it the tidy'ing up it needed, I was also removing the very light PO engraving on the side of the head.
There it WAS! Under the patina, but not deeply stamped....THAT word! Right next to 16oz. The C country of origin! Uhhh...and to think I was putting that time and effort into freshening up a vintage Stanley, with the beautiful patina'd lacquer wood finish.
Oh well, it doesn't say China now, but because the curved nail puller portion it was a bit different than my Stanley, it will make a nice compliment to the user collection.